Disability Archives

Our Fact Checker Says FactCheck.Org Missed the Bigger Picture on Trump, Social Security & Medicare

Late last month, FactCheck.org published an article titled 'FactChecking Vice President Kamala Harris' which included misleading claims on the two presidential candidates and their stances on Social Security and Medicare. The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, and other groups like it have taken positions that would seriously undermine the nation’s most popular social insurance program. Donald Trump cannot distance himself from these bad actors no matter how hard he tries, and they undoubtedly would play an influential role in a second Trump Administration. We chatted with our Government Relations and Policy Director, Dan Adcock, about some of the omitted details from FactCheck.org, and the big picture on Social Security in 2024.

Lucas Kaplan2024-08-10T13:02:13-04:00August 9th, 2024|Categories: Boost Social Security, Budget, Congress, Disability, Election 2024, Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance|

As Medicare Turns 59, We Still Need to Defend It

Before Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson 59 years ago today, nearly half of American seniors had no hospital insurance. Private insurance companies were reluctant to cover anyone over 65. Even fewer seniors had coverage for non-hospital services like doctor’s visits. Many of the elderly were forced to exhaust their retirement savings to pay for medical care; some fell into poverty because of it. All of that changed with Medicare.

Walter Gottlieb2024-07-31T09:22:19-04:00July 30th, 2024|Categories: Disability, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Older Americans, Politics, Prescription Drug Prices, President Biden|

Would a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security and Medicare?

First, the good news. Even if the government shuts down at the end of this week because of House Republican intransigence, Social Security benefits will continue to be paid and customer service for retirees should not get significantly worse. Now, the bad news. The impending shutdown is symptomatic of a disorder in Congress that seniors should care about: MAGA hardliners once again gumming up the works of a government which best serves the public when operating smoothly, without needless disruptions.

Walter Gottlieb2023-09-26T11:53:16-04:00September 25th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Disability, GOP, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA)|

People With Disabilities, Pre-Existing Conditions Are Vulnerable to Social Security & Medicare Cuts

All but the most upper-income seniors would be hurt by cuts to Social Security and Medicare --- the kind which Republicans have been proposing in the name of “entitlement reform.” But older Americans with disabilities or pre-existing conditions would be hit especially hard.

Walter Gottlieb2023-02-28T11:42:16-04:00February 27th, 2023|Categories: Disability, Medicare, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Politics, President Biden, Republicans, Social Security|

SSA Field Offices to Re-open in March

After nearly two years of Social Security field offices being closed for all but “dire needs,” the Social Security Administration indicated today that there is progress toward re-opening. Acting SSA Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi announced in a press release that the agency and its three main labor unions have reached agreement on a re-opening plan.

NCPSSM2022-01-21T17:18:43-04:00January 20th, 2022|Categories: Acting SSA Commissioner Kijakazi, Disability, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), SSA field offices|